Minnesota Representatives Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig conducted congressional oversight at the Whipple Federal Building and found holding cells completely empty during their visit. The lawmakers had previously been denied access to the facility, raising concerns about transparency in federal immigration operations.

During the oversight visit, Rep. Angie Craig said ICE agents appeared to have cleared detainees from the facility just 30 minutes before their arrival. The representatives criticized policies requiring congressional members to provide week-long notice before conducting oversight visits, arguing this undermines their constitutional oversight duties. They also noted that approximately 500 ICE agents are currently operating in Minnesota under Operation Metro Surge.

Reps. Omar and Craig reported that federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota currently conducts about 20 detentions per day and operates two deportation flights weekly. Border Czar Tom Homan has returned to Washington, D.C., while the acting director of federal immigration enforcement provided the representatives with current operational data. The lawmakers emphasized their commitment to ensuring transparency in immigration enforcement and maintaining their constitutional right to conduct oversight without advance notice.